1
as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decrees
an order publicly issued by an authority
a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in memorandums
a written communication giving information or directions
a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directives
Brennan argues the records are vital to a potential vindictive-prosecution defense, citing more than 100 Trump statements attacking him and directives to pursue cases without legal basis.
—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The attorneys general challenged several of its directives, including a provision that required state and local officials to collect proof of citizenship from vote-by-mail applicants.
—
Haley Parsley
june 24,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
Following two landmark rulings from the state’s high court affirming the new maps, as well as directives from Missouri’s secretary of state and attorney general, local election boards, including the KCEB, prepared August ballots to account for the changes to voters’ districts.
—
Ilana Arougheti
june 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
However, the directives may not go far enough in requiring transparency around the cost of new data center connections, and may be watered down in practice, says Ari Peskoe, electricity policy researcher at Harvard Law School.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
24 June 2026
The outbreak is unfolding just two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the annual flu shot optional for troops, scrapping the military's requirement for it, which dates to 1945, a move breaking with longstanding public health directives.
—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Anthropic's Claude, however, publicly shares its prompt, offering insight into directives for proactive mental health engagement.
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
But the administration has taken a variety of steps to thwart Congress’ directives.
—
Anna Maria Barry-Jester,
ProPublica,
22 June 2026
The Justice Department wanted a wide range of information on policies and directives related to federal immigration operations.
—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The attorneys general challenged several of its directives, including a provision that required state and local officials to collect proof of citizenship from vote-by-mail applicants.
—
Haley Parsley
june 24,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
Following two landmark rulings from the state’s high court affirming the new maps, as well as directives from Missouri’s secretary of state and attorney general, local election boards, including the KCEB, prepared August ballots to account for the changes to voters’ districts.
—
Ilana Arougheti
june 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
However, the directives may not go far enough in requiring transparency around the cost of new data center connections, and may be watered down in practice, says Ari Peskoe, electricity policy researcher at Harvard Law School.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
24 June 2026
The outbreak is unfolding just two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the annual flu shot optional for troops, scrapping the military's requirement for it, which dates to 1945, a move breaking with longstanding public health directives.
—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Anthropic's Claude, however, publicly shares its prompt, offering insight into directives for proactive mental health engagement.
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
But the administration has taken a variety of steps to thwart Congress’ directives.
—
Anna Maria Barry-Jester,
ProPublica,
22 June 2026
The Justice Department wanted a wide range of information on policies and directives related to federal immigration operations.
—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives
Noun
-
For large populations, use a product containing spinosad, bifenthrin or Bacillius thurgiensis, according to label instructions.
-
The Court also decided on Monday not to grant a retrial to a man convicted in a notorious decades-old cold case, reversing a decision that determined the jurors who convicted Pedro Hernandez of killing Etan Patz more than 40 years ago received improper instructions.
Noun
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The artists were protesting the approval of two decrees that regulate and censor artists not affiliated with state institutions, and penalize freedom of expression and independent journalism.
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Editors also printed speeches of major national and state political leaders as well as significant government documents, including sessions of state legislatures and governors’ decrees.
Noun
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No formal deal exists yet, and Fortune noted there may not even be signed memoranda.
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The visit, led by officials tied to the White House’s energy policy apparatus, is expected to produce memorandums of understanding covering oil and key minerals such as gold, aluminum and possibly coal.
Noun
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Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
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The age of the Germanic male genius delivering edicts from on high has run its course.
Noun
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The Supreme Court's immigration rulings have largely allowed Trump to decide who can enter the United States and who must leave.
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While condo association boards often have the authority to approve or deny sales, the prior circuit and appellate court rulings concluding the community’s documents do not grant it that authority may ultimately be reaffirmed in these current cases.
Noun
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There are about seven and a half million borrowers in the SAVE plan and servicers will begin sending them official notices Wednesday, said Lindsay Vail Clark, chief borrower advocate at Savi, a student loan debt assistance platform.
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Medicaid is not implemented in the abstract, but through state agencies, vendors, eligibility systems, notices, call centers, claims data and clinical records.
Noun
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Just under 35,000 removal orders have been issued in California from January through May of this year, according to TRAC, a data gathering organization at Syracuse University.
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Evacuation orders affecting about 300 residents in the Oak Leaf Circle area were downgraded to warnings.
Noun
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The coach also praised his players for keeping their emotions in check after the red card and other decisions by the officiating crew.
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Key indicators include how teams handle uncertainty, genuinely challenge each other, learn from failures, and base decisions on current realities.
Cite this Entry
“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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